Fluid separator



June 18; 1946. J. FLETCHER FLUID SEPARATOR Original Filed July 50, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR. James F/eLC/Y er A TTORNEY Hill I I June 18, 1946. ,1. FLETCHER FLUID SEPARATOR 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 30, 1940 Fig.5

. INVENTOR.

James F/efc/zer Y ATTORNEY Patented June 18, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Babcock & Wilcox Company, Ro'ckligh, N. J'., a corporation of New Jersey Original application July 30, 1940. serial No:

348,369. Divided and this; application December 15, 1942, Serial No. 469,068

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to steam generators having'steam and water drums in which centrifugal'sep'arators are employed. The invention is also particularly concerned with a system involving' centrifugal means for effecting the separation of fluids-of different densities.

The invention involves a circular whirl chamher into which a mixture of steam and water is directed tangentially at a high velocity, this action setting up a whirling motion of the fluid Within the chamber. is separated from water, and the former passes from the chamber through an upper circular outlet'which'is arranged eccentrically with reference to'thewhirl chamber. The separated water is discharged through another outlet preferably disposed at the bottom of the chamber.

With the whirl chamber inlet near the top oi thewhirl chamber and a steam outlet arranged at the top of the chamber and eccentrically thereof; there is a maximum annular width or space between the outside edge of the steam outlet and the adjacent whirl chamber wall in the zone of the inlet. With a whirl chamber of a given diameter'ancl with a steam outlet of a given diameter, the eccentric relationship of the steam outlet and the whirl chamber improves fluid separation and increasesthe' capacity of the whirl chamber while at the same time minimizesfspace' requirements in the arrangement of a plurality of the illustrative whirl chambers within a separator chamber. This is particularly important in'the steam and water drums of high pressure steam generators, where; on account of the high cost'of drums for high pressures, it is necessary that" drum space and drum diameters be minimized.

This invention also involves whirl chambers arranged with tangential inlets, a characteristic which combines with the'eccentric relationship of the" steam outlet and the whirl chamber, to further improve the steam and water separating capacities of boiler drums and thereby minimize the-drum space required for a given boiler, by making it possible to arrange a greater number of the illustrative whirl chambers within a steam andwater drum.

The-invention also involves such an arrangement and mounting of the individual whirl chamber units within a steam and water drum that periodic removal of the individual units to give access to boiler tube ends, is facilitated.

Among other objects; the invention is intended to" provide "means for maintaining the incoming mixture" of steam and water relatively free from In this chamber, the steam 2. the disturbing'influenc'es arising from the impact of the swirling water after it has completed the major part of its first movement about the whirl chamber. An additional object is to effect this result without incurring undesirable reaction due to excessive'deflection of the whirling mixture.

Another object is to so construct and arrange the components of the separator that the incoming stream of steam and Water is'subject to 'aniinim'urrl of flow resistance.

Itisalso' an object of the invention to so arrange the steam outlet with reference to the whirl chamber that an optimum flow of separated steam may take place.

The invention contemplates the use of steam incoming mixture" to excessive flow resistance.

Each separator maybe arranged to receive the combined discharge'of sever'alwater heating; or steam generating tubes, and yet,b'e'so arranged and constructed "that it may be easily removed 'fromits' operative'position for inspection of the related boiler partsa's' well as the separator itself.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the" following'description proceeds and the invention will be" described with reference to an embodiment which is illustrated'in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a'vertical section of a steam generator A utilizing the invention;

elevation; andthe lower part of'the separator has its outer wall broken away so as to expose the inner construction.

Fig; 4 is a horizontal section. on the lined-4 o ie- 33' Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the steam andwater drum showing the arrangement of a plurality of separators employed therein; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-.-fi of Fig. 5 of the drum showing the arrangement of the illustrative separators, in plan; This figure is partly broken away to show the arrangement of the inlet nozzles for adjacent whirl chambers.

The illustrative separator includes a plurality of substantially circular whirl chambers l each having an inlet l2 through which a mixture of steam and water is discharged into the whirl chamber at high velocity.

Within each whirl chamber, steam, separated from the water, passes upwardly through a circular steam outlet M determined by the downwardly extending flange, or cylindrical structure I which is fixed to the top of the whirl chamber. The eccentric relationship of the whirl chamber and the separated steam outlet is indicated in Fig. 4 in which the center of the outlet is indicated at A while the whirl chamber center is indicated at B. Fig. 6 also shows this eccentric relationship.

When the whirl chambers it] are arranged in rows as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, they are supported so that their steam outlets are spaced downwardly from the horizontal shroud structures It and I7. These structures also provide support for a number of multiple plate separators, or scrubbers l8 disposed over the steam outlets of the whirl chambers. It is important that the separated steam be as free from water as possible and this condition is promoted by the provision of the steam discharge openings !9 and 20 between the shroud structures it and 11, respectively, and the tops of the whirl chambers. These openings permit communication between the drum steam space and the whirl chamber steam outlets, beneath the shroud side flanges 2i and 23 (which connect the transverse and end shroud flanges such as 2| and 2|"). With this construction, pressure drop is reduced and the loading of the multiple plate separators is made more uniform.

In each whirl chamber, the separated water is discharged downwardly through circumferentially arranged outlets such as those indicated at 22 and 2 3. They are separated by successive vanes 25 arranged in an annular series between a bottom plate 28 and a Wall of the whirl chamber. Below the outlets a baflie 2T directs the separated water toward the central portion of the associated drum.

The arrangement of elements is such that the steam and water inlet l2 communicates directly with the circumferential space between the flange l5 and the whirl chamber wall at a point where the flange is at a greater distance from the wall, due to the eccentricity of the whirl chamber and the wall i5 as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. This arrangement offers a minimum of flow resistance and thus improves the circulation in the fluid system without additional space requirement for the separators. This is particularly important when the separators are utilized in boiler drums.

Means is also provided for preventing the flood ing of the space adjacent the steam and water inlet and for minimizing the passage of water through the outlets I4 and the scrubbers l8 along with the steam, and this means is effectiveto accomplish these results without involving undesirable reaction arising from excessive deflection of the whirling stream within the chamber. This means includes, in each whirl chamber, a curved or segmental plate 30 spaced from the wall of the whirl chamber. It is secured in position by joining it at its upper edge, as by welding or brazing, to the flange l5.

The illustrative separators are preferably arranged in opposite rows within the steam and water drum 55 in the manner indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6 of the drawings, and, for this purpose, each whirl chamber is provided at its steam and water inlet nozzle with a heavy flange 52 for securement t upright plates 56 and 57 which are affixed to the drum in the positions indicated in Fig. 2. As indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings the flanges 52, rigid with the whirl chamber inlet structures 54 have beveled edges which co-operate with similarly formed edges on the fixed bars 55 and 58 and the removable wedge bars 50 to facilitate the original assembly of a plurality of the illustrative Whirl chambers within a drum and likewise facilitate the removal of the whirl chambers when access to the drum ends of the steam generator tubes is desired.

The whirl chambers are arranged in pairs with the tangential fluid inlets of each pair parallel to each other and normal to their supporting plate (either 56 or 51), as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings. In the installation of such a pair of whirl chambers, one of them with its inlet structure 54 is moved upwardly beneath the shelf is with the face of the flange against the plate 55 and the right-hand beveled edge (see Fig. 4) disposed within the groove formed by the plate 56 and the beveled edge of the bar 58. Then the adjacent whirl chamber is similarly disposed with its flange 52 facing against the plate 56 and its left-hand beveled edge fitting within the groove formed by the bar 55 and the plate 56. Thereafter, with the adjacent whirl chambers held in the positions indicated, the wedge bar 68 is placed in position with its opposite beveled edges in contact with the remaining beveled edges of the flanges 52 and 52 and the wedge bar is forced into operative position by the tightening of nuts 66 arranged upon bolts secured to the plate 56. Thus the inclined edges with the wedge bar 60 bear upon the inclined faces of adjoining nozzle (or inlet structure) flanges and co-operate with the fixed wedges (formed by the inclined surface of the bars 55 and 58) bearing upon the opposite inclined faces of the nozzle flanges to force the flanges into water-tight relationship with the plate 56 and to maintain it in such relationship.

In the above described action, it is to be noted that no access is necessary to the spaces between the plates 56 and 5'! and the adjacent Walls of the drum 58. It is only necessary to insert a socket wrench in the space between adjacent whirl chambers, this socket wrench engaging the This manner of mounting the whirl chambers permits a close spacing of those chambers throughout the length of the drum and thus increases the steam and water separating capacity of the drum, per unit of drum length. The

' eccentric relationship of the steam outlets and the whirl chambers permits the tangential arrangementof the inlet nozzles or structures 54 which, in turn, permits such a closely spaced arrangement of the whirl chambers in pairs as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6, thus, these co-acting structural relationships combining to provide increased steam and water separating capacity for a given drum length, and to aiiord an improved manner of assembling and disassembling the illustrative separators within a steam and water drum.

The plates 58 and 51 combine with the drum wall and the segmental plates -43 to form a compartment which receives the steam and water discharged into the drum-by the steam generating tubes. These plates are'preferably'of such;

width that they may be passed through a. drum manway, and the upper edges of the plates 80 and 83 are arranged with vapor-tight slip joint connections. 85 and 88 with the. lower edges of the plates 56 and 51, the adjoining edges of the plates. 89-83 being united by the spannerclamps 90--92. creases accessibility of the drum ends of the steam generatingtubes, and this is of particular importance in connection with marine boilers where the internaldrum chamber. connecting with the whirl chambers must embrace almost the. entire lower half of the drum due to the extent of drum connections of the steam; generating tubes.

Steamandwater mixtures are discharged into the internal drum chamber 95by the steam generatingltubes of two upwardly converging banks of tubes I and IE2 which are in communication at their lower ends with the water drums I04 and. I06, and, in the natural circulation boiler shown, the downcomers I08 and H0 connect the water space of the drum 50 with the drums I04 and I06.

The banks of tubes I95! and I02 aredisposed above furnaces H6 and II8, respectively, the latter being fired by the sets of burners I20 and I22.

In the steam generator shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, thefurnaces are separated by a wall i24 which may include tubes. I26, directly connecting the drum with the header IIZ which is connected into the boiler circulation.

Steam and water passes from the drum chamber 95 through the illustrative separators and the separated steam discharged. from the separators, passes through the steam oiT-take I28, and through the superheater supply conduit I36 to a superheater I32,- some of the tubes of which are preferably arranged between some of the tubes of the. bank I02.

The feed water pipe I38 in the water space of i the drum, is provided for adding water to replace that removed by the. steam generated.

Furnace gases and other combustion products, after passing through the banks of the tubes I0!) and IE2 pass over the heat exchange surfaces of the economizers I34 and I36 and thence to one or more flues or stacks.

This application is a divisional application of the parent application 348,369 entitled Fluid separator, and filed July 30, 1940, but later abandoned.

What is claimed is:

1. In a steam generator, a steam and water drum, means including an upright diaphragm dividing the drum into inlet and outlet compartments, means discharging mixtures of steam and water into the inlet compartment, whirl chamber units having tangential inlet structures communicating with the inlet compartment, said units being arranged in the outlet compartment and along the diaphragm with their steam outlets within the drum steam space, a shroud including a shelf-like plate structure extending horizontally from said diaphragm over said steam outlets and spaced vertically from the whirl chambers, said shroud also including downwardly extending side and end flanges spaced laterally of the whirl chambers and disposed about the tops thereof, the shroud and said units being independently supported, and multiple plate separators supported by the shelf-like plate struc- This entire assembly is one which in.

ture across the-upright path of: steam flow from.

an exterior chamber adapted to have a liquid level. therein, wall. means co-operating 3 with part of. the first. mentioned means to form an inlet compartment in the chamber, means maintaininginsaid compartmenta vapor and liquid mixtureat a pressure higher than the pressure in said chamber exteriorly of. the compartment, a row-of centrifugal fluid separators arranged so asto have their inlets in communication with said inlet compartment, the separators having vapor'outlets at their upper ends in communicationwith the chamber space above such liquid level, a shroud including a unitary shelf-like plate structure spaced vertically from and extending over the vapor outlets of a plurality of said separators, said shroud structure being secured in position independently of the separators and presenting downwardly extending flanges spaced'horizontally from said row of separators, and a row of multiple plate separators disposed onthe shroud structure and superposed relative to said vapor outlets.

3. In a steam generator, a steam and water drum, means including an upright diaphragm dividing the drumintoinlet and outlet compartments, said diaphragm extending longitudinally of the drum and along one side thereof, means whereby steam and water mixtures are discharged into the inlet compartment, a plurality of upright cylindrical steam and water separators secured to the diaphragm with their inlets communicating with the inlet compartment through openings in the diaphragm, the separators having steam outlets at their upper ends and outlets for separated water at their lower ends, a shelf-like construction secured to the diaphragm and extending horizontally over a plurality of the separators and spaced from their tops; said shelf-like construction being separately supported relative to said separators, multiple plate steam and water separators carried by said construction and disposed above said steam outlets; and upright walls extending downwardly from the ends'and front of the shelf-like construction to direct water downwardly within the drum and confine the steam so that it will escape upwardly through the multiple plate separators, said upright walls and the shelf construction enclosing the tops of the first mentioned separators.

4. In a steam generator, a steam and water drum having a water level below the drum steam space, means including an upright diaphragm wall disposed within the drum so as to provide separate inlet and outlet compartments within the drum, means discharging mixtures of steam and water into the inlet compartment and maintaining pressures therein higher than the pressure in the outlet compartment, whirl chamber units having substantially tangential inlet structures communicating with the inlet compartment, said units being arranged along the inlet compartment with their steam outlets within the drum steam space, a shroud including a fixed Shelf-like structure disposed above said steam outlets and spaced vertically from the whirl chambers, said shelf-like structure being supported independently of the whirl chamber inlets, said shroud also including downwardly extending side and end flanges spaced laterally of the whirl chambers adjacent the tops thereof, and fixed separators supported by the shroud struc- 7 ture in superposed relation to the steam outlets of the whirl chamber units.

5. In a vapor and liquid fluid system, means forming a gas and liquid chamber adapted in operation to have a liquid level therein, means including an upright wall dividing the chamber into inlet and outlet compartments, means whereby a gas and liquid mixture is discharged into the inlet compartment at a pressure higher than the pressure in the outlet compartment, a plurality of upright gas and liquid separators having whirl chambers secured to the wall with their inlets communicating with the inlet compartment through openings in the wall, the separators having gas outlets at their upper ends and outlets for separated liquid at their lower ends, a shelf-like construction secured to the wall independently of said separators and extending over and spaced from the tops of said separators, fixed auxiliary gas and liquid separators supported on said shelf-like construction and extending across the upright path of gas flow from said outlets, and upright walls extending downwardly from the shelf-like construction about the upper ends of the whirl chambers to direct liquid downwardly within the chamber and confine the gas so that it will escape upwardly through the auxiliary separators.

6. In a vapor and liquid fluid system, means forming an exterior chamber adapted in operation to have a liquid level therein, wall means co-operating with part of the first mentioned means to form an inlet compartment Within the chamber but separate from the remainder of the chamber, means maintaining in said compartment a vapor and liquid mixture at a pressure greater than the pressure in said chamber exteriorly of said compartment, a row of whirl chamber gas and liquid separators having substantially tangential inlets in communication with said inlet compartment, the separators having whirl chamber gas cutlets at the tops thereof, a shroud including a fixed shelf-like structure spaced vertically from and extending over the gas outlets of the whirl chambers, said shroud structure presenting downwardly extending walls spaced horizontally from the whirl chamber gas outlets and maintaining communication between the outlets and the chamber space above said liquid level, and multiple plate separators disposed on the shroud structure and superposed relative to said gas outlets.

7. In a steam generator, a steam and water drum, means including an upright wall separating the drum space into inlet and outlet compartments, said wall extending longitudinally of the drum, means whereby steam and water mixtures are discharged into the inlet compartment, a plurality of upright whirl chamber separators secured to said wall with their inlets communicating with the inlet compartment through openings in the wall, the separators having steam outlets at their upper ends and outlets for separated water at their lower ends, a shelf-like con struction secured to the wall independently of said separators and extending horizontally over and spaced from the tops of said separators, fixed auxiliary steam and water separating means carried by said construction and disposed across the upright of steam flow from said steam outlets, and upright walls fixed to and extending downwardly from the shelf-like construction to direct water downwardly within the drum and confine the steam so that it will escape upwardly through the auxiliary separating means, said upright walls and the shelf construction being disposed around the tops of the whirl chamber separators.

8. In a fluid system, means forming a vapor and liquid chamber, a row of upright whirl chamber separators secured within said chamber, means whereby vapor and liquid mixtures are discharged tangentially into each separator whirl chamber at high velocity, each whirl chamber having a vapor outlet at its upper end and an outlet for separated liquid at its lower end, a shroud like construction secured within the drum independently of the whirl chambers and extending over said row of whirl chamber separators, and fixed auxiliary separators supported by said shroud above the Whirl chamber vapor outlets, said shroud including downwardly extending upright walls spaced horizontally from and enclosing the tops of the whirl chamber separators.

JAMES FLETCHER, 

